The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-04-17

one; it's rather commonplace; 10 fact,
think you'll be rather disappointed with
it. Perhaps I'd better not tell you at allP
"Oh, yes; come now, you must tell itp
"Well then" he said. with desperate
GOODNESS, tits merely Nux vomica ad
nauseam."
He scarcely knew how his words came,
for he was not celebrated as a Latin
scholar, and had never even fancied him
self an eligible Candidate tor academic dis
tinction in that department of learning.
However. it seemed tat the mother of in
yention had for once prompted him with
considerable success. Percy thanked his
stars that Providence had prevented Sir
Ebenezer from accompanying his family.
well. how do you like il Pulsatilla?'
he inquired nervously
Il think its Splendid" she replied
glowing with pride in her lovers scholastic
attachments. For it is not every doctor
who knows what his prescriptions m an, !"
she thought TO herself. But what does
it mean, Peft ?" she went on,
Well you see, it's one Of those things
tina can't be translated literally" he re.
pliea-he had already forgotten what the
motto was-''freely rendered it means,
Call spads spade;' that's about as q ear
as can get 10 it for you"
And an excellent motto it is, too, ex-
claimed Lady Bastwick, "a good, sound,
practical maxim" gazing critically at the
curtains; why, you must have spent a
lot on these curtains, they're perfectly
lovely and so good just feel she added,
as Lady Bastwick advanced to inspect
them"
They are indeed" was that lady's cor
roboratvie comment; II only wish Sir
Ebenezer would let me have some like
them fer the drawing room at the hall.
May ask what you pad for them, Percy ?
How thou hlless of you not to have spent
the money on few comfortable chairsi"
Pulsatilla aud her mother were certainly
providing some splendid opportunities
for She exhibition OF Percy's ready wit.
Could they have known what an unmit-
isated nuisance their kindly interest was
to him! But the painful discovery was
not TO eyet.
'Tt's rather funny you should have
noticed those curtains" he stsmmered.
You see 1 had to begin furnishing
gradually, and thought it best to begin
with them because they were going so
cneap-only ninepence halfpenny yard
at the stores-not bad bargin, eh?" and
he paused defantly.
'.Ninepence halfpeany!' Extraordinary"
murmured Lsdy Bastwlck; II must go
and order several pairs at once if that is
the case"
"Ah, you can't do that" struck in Percy,
pale with terror at the idea; ''these were
only old remnants,yo know, aud there's
not scrap moro left; you would have to
pay ten times the price for anything like
them now. But you can have these, if
you like; IL make you present of them"
s.By no means" said Lady Bastwick, de-
cisively, turning round and STOPPING to
ward the door,
II see you're looking at the carpet"
continued the wretcned Percy, who had
shrunk from the iuea OF taking 1t mp;
mice one, isn't il? Yes. Turkey, they tell
me- Yes, butts not mine, it's only lent
that is, it belongs to my landlord, aud
is fixture, or whatever it's called Very
nice man, my Landlord; SO obliging, you
know"
He led them back again to their former
uncomfortable selts. But this time Pull
satiila was harder to be appeased than
her mother.
altogether, the room is not much
like your description, Percy" she said.
with touch of reproachtu severity.
perhaps that is because am not good
at description" he said, jaunily, trying to
lau b it off; 'syou must not expect to find
second Ruskin in me, my dear; word
painting is not much in my line. Besides,
aren't you mist ken now, after all
should have thought my description, if not
a scrupulously faithful likeness, at least
gave one pretty correct idea?'
Ln o. h nd
Pestle was announced.
sOh, come ia, cried Percy; ssyou will
be pleased to know Pestle I am sure" he
added, addressing Lady Bastwick.
excuse me- said Pestle, hastily, ''but
Nor .ar's outside. May | bring him in,
CLafer We didn't know you were hav-
ing company, and
ssYes, bring him ia, Interrupted Percy,
and " lille MIR. Mortar was being informed
that the '..spree" was not yet over, the
LADIES' were told what excellent fellows
Pestle an, Mortar both were, and how uni
versaIly beloved by all who knew them.
"Capital room, very" said Mr.. Mortar
who was soon talking volably to Lady
Bastwick, shut scarcely as good as his bed
room-that is, of coarse, for bedroom !"
Il should like to see it very much" said
the lady. ''You must let US see your b cd
rom, Percy" she continued; "Mr. Nor
tar tells me it is an unusually good one; we
should never have heard of it had it not
been for his thoughttulness- really are
too forgelful, Percy"
Torgetfui He had thought of nothing
but that accursed bedroom tor the whole
day. And. if it had not been for the odious
peridy of the shameless Mortar, he might
have nved to tell how he passed through
the ordeal of that terrible afte rnoon and
emerged a victor.
sTne doors locked, he said. thickly.
Then let us have the key, said Lady
Bastwick, approaching the awful portal
with a smile, unconscious of the imminent
catastrophe.
81 haven't got it. It's lost" and the mis-
cradle aeceiyer sank down, upon one of his
hard chairs
g., \ -, 60, .t,a iya15 is ~, tb.a thor e;S a